Statement by the African Commission on the Present Human Rights Situation in Mali

The
African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission) has been
closely monitoring the human rights situation in the north of the Republic of
Mali since the beginning of 2012. The Commission is deeply concerned by the
increased fighting as terrorist groups advance towards the south.

The
Commission is concerned by the continuous occupation of the north of Mali by
terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQMI), Ansar Dine and
the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), which commit massive human
rights violations with impunity against civilian populations.

The
Commission notes with concern the recent increase in the movement of people
fleeing areas of fighting to the interior and out of the country as a result of
the worsening security and humanitarian situation caused by fighting.

The Commission condemns the illegal
occupation of parts of northern Mali by the various armed groups, and strongly
condemns all human rights violations committed in Mali and all attempts at the
Balkanization of the country which undermine the country’s territorial
integrity, national unity and social cohesion, as well as the peace of the
populations.

The Commission commends the efforts
of ECOWAS and the international community to stop rebels from advancing, fight
terrorist groups and recover the northern territory of Mali.

The Commission underscores that
human rights must be respected at all times, and calls on all the parties to
the conflict to fully respect international humanitarian law and protect
civilian populations and their property.

The Commission urges the Malian
Armed Forces, military intervention forces and the armed groups to take the
necessary measures to ensure that human rights are protected, including the
right to life and physical integrity, the right to human dignity, and the right
to freedom of the people guaranteed by the African Charter on Human and
Peoples’ Rights and other international and regional human rights instruments.

The Commission calls for the
facilitation of the work of humanitarian organisations assisting the Malian
populations, and expects to see available and safe humanitarian corridors providing
access to internally displaced persons.

The Commission encourages
Mali’s neighbours to continue to welcome refugees arriving in their territories
and to provide them the necessary protection and assistance.

The Commission welcomes
the decision by the International Criminal Court to investigate crimes
committed in the north of Mali by all the parties to the conflict. The
Commission underscores that such crimes cannot go unpunished and calls on all
the parties to work with the ICC towards bringing the perpetrators of serious
crimes to justice.

The Commission calls on
the African Union and the international community to continue their efforts to
find a solution to the crisis in Mali towards restoring peace, the territorial
integrity and political stability of the Republic of Mali.

The Commission reiterates
its resolutions ACHPR/RES.209
(EXT.OS/XI) 2012 and ACHPR/RES.217 on the human rights situation in the north
of Mali and Resolution ACHPR/RES.210
(EXT.OS/XI) 2012 on refugees and internally displaced persons fleeing the
conflict in the north of Mali.